Chris Paul figures prominently in Rockets' long-term plans

Guard, 32, figures to play a big role in team's future

Rockets guard Chris Paul recently became eligible to sign a contract extension, but Paul indicated he is no rush to sign and may wait until after the season to begin contract talks.

Rockets guard Chris Paul recently became eligible to sign a...

WASHINGTON - Guard Chris Paul was told he had reached the date, six months after he had been traded from the Los Angeles Clippers, at which the Rockets could offer a contract extension. He said he was unaware of the date and showed little interest in it.

As president of the players association, he likely knew the rule that makes him eligible to sign his next contract. He might not have had the date circled on his calendar, with his return from a strained groin muscle a more immediate concern than his next contract, but he indicated those talks would wait.

"I've never done an extension in my career," Paul said. "I didn't sign one in New Orleans. I didn't sign one in L.A."

Asked if that means he will wait for summer, "Yeah, why not? I'm in no rush."

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Though with the majority of the season and an entire team-defining postseason still to come, Paul's importance to the Rockets and the questions they will ask themselves already had become apparent.

Ideal for this offense

The Rockets are 15-2 in games Paul has played. He was on the floor 25½ minutes on Friday in accordance to the restriction he had in his first game back after missing the previous three games. The Rockets are 13-0 when he has played more than 26 minutes.

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey have said Paul has meshed with James Harden and the Rockets' offense even more quickly than they had hoped.

"Chris was really born to play in an offense like this," Morey said.

But Paul has had two injuries in his first three months with the team. Morey, however, does not consider that a concern when he looks ahead to signing Paul, 32, to a long-term deal.

If he were to sign an extension, Paul would be eligible to earn as much as $132 million over four years. As a free agent, the Rockets could offer him as much as a five-year, $205 million deal, an especially significant investment in a player that will turn 33 this season.

Morey would not discuss the sort of contract he might offer Paul, but he left no doubt that Paul's early-season injuries had not changed his intention to work hard to keep him.

Age not a concern

"The history of Hall-of-Fame-level guards with a game like Chris' is very good," Morey said. "There's a lot point guards who are elite have aged very well because a lot of their game is on intelligence, things like that.

"Obviously, when we get someone as great as Chris Paul or James Harden, the plan is to keep him here. He'll have a choice when the season ends. We feel like we set things up well. It should be an easy choice for him."

Morey cited point guards Jason Kidd and John Stockton who similarly were pass-first playmakers who played with their feet on the ground. If you don't jump, you don't have to land. Diminished quickness was not a significant issue.

Paul could have the advantage of being a top 3-point shooter (41.1 percent last season, 40.8 percent this season) who plays in a backcourt with an elite playmaker.

Important to Harden

The Rockets view him as just as important to Harden in the coming years, especially in the postseason, to take some of the load off their most important player and keep him fresher for the postseason.

"We ask so much of James," coach Mike D'Antoni said before Paul's return on Friday. "That's why we're waiting on Chris. James makes every determining play. He gets tired. Anybody would. There are moments he's completely overloaded and he has a turnover. Now we can take plays away from him. Instead of making 50 decisions, he's making 40 or 30 without being tired decisions, and that's huge.

"That's one way. The other way is you have another unbelievably smart playmaker on the floor so that helps. It helps Trevor (Ariza). He doesn't get as many minutes. There's a ripple effect all the way through.

"He is indispensable, as Clint (Capela) is and Luc (Mbah a Moute) is. We have to have our full team, as most teams do. You can win here or there. We'll get back to it."

With that, D'Antoni listed four players - Paul, Ariza, Mbah a Moute and Capela - who will be free agents. Only Capela will be a restricted free agent.

With Paul, the Rockets had quickly seen enough to get a feel for what they can be with and without him for this season and beyond.